The European Union (EU) wants to create its own military training mission in Ukraine, Welt am Sonntag reported on October 3, citing documents from the European External Relations Service (EEAS).
It is assumed that the mission will be called the EU Military Advisory and Training Mission Ukraine (EUATM).
According to the publication, the EU's decision was prompted by the tense relations between Kiev and Moscow. In addition, it will be an "expression of solidarity" with Ukraine against the background of Russia's "ongoing military activity" near the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea.
It is noted that the Baltic countries, as well as Poland, Romania and Slovakia insist on the creation of the mission. Sweden and Finland stand in solidarity with them.
In addition, at the end of July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine sent a letter to the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel with a request to establish an appropriate military mission in the country, the publication says.
According to the newspaper, the European Union is considering three other ways to improve the military potential of the Ukrainian army, including the expansion of the EU advisory mission on the reform of civil security of Ukraine, which has existed since 2014.
On September 13, MEPs called for strengthening the military potential of the European Union to "contain" Russia. It was clarified that Brussels should put pressure on Moscow to prevent its "interference in the affairs of the eastern and southern neighbors of the union."
In turn, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov on September 2 noted that Ukraine's North Atlantic aspirations pose a danger to Russia. According to him, Washington encourages Kiev's desire to join NATO and the European Union, because the alliance will thus continue to bring its military infrastructure closer to the Russian borders.
Relations between European countries and Russia became complicated after the events in Ukraine in 2014, when a coup took place in Kiev. Since 2014, the Kiev authorities have been conducting a military operation against the residents of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.